Benjamin Netanyahu defended his plan to control Gaza City in the face of wide international anger, even when senior UN officials warned that this step was at the risk of a “another disaster” of an area that is already suffering from “hunger, simple and simple”.
At a rare press conference with foreign journalists in Jerusalem, the Israeli Prime Minister said that the plan, which was signed by the Security Council cabinet last week on criticism at home and abroad, was “the best way to end the war and the best way to end it quickly.”
But during the weekend session at the United Nations Security Council in New York, there were repeated warnings and instead of ending the 22 -month war, this step will exacerbate the actually full humanitarian situation.
“If these plans are implemented, they are likely to lead to another catastrophe in Gaza, hesitating throughout the region and causing more forced displacement, killing and destruction,” said Miroslav Jenka, Assistant Secretary -General of the United Nations,.
In the midst of the hot discourse, the Gaza Ministry of Health said that five other people, including two children, were drowned due to the causes of malnutrition, as the number of children who died of these causes reached 100. Including adults, the total number of deaths of malnutrition was standing in 217.
“This is no longer a hunger crisis that is looming on the horizon – this is famine, pure and simple,” Ramish Rajingham, Coordination Director in Usha, told the Security Council meeting.
Israel imposed stakes and restrictions on the entry of aid to the region, but at his press conference, Netanyahu said it was “completely false” that his government was following “the policy of hunger.” He admitted hunger, and problems with the United States food distribution system and the Israeli -backed Gaza Foundation (GHF), but accused the media of “lies” about the size of the problem.
Hospitals and witnesses said at least 26 Palestinians a few hours ago, at least 26 Palestinians were killed while seeking assistance in Gaza, hospitals and witnesses. It included 15 dead while waiting for auxiliary trucks near the newly built Mourge Corridor, which separates the southern cities of Rifa and Khan Yunis, according to Nasser Hospital.
Six others were killed while awaiting assistance in northern Gaza near the Zikim crossing, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza and the Shiva Hospital in Gaza City.
According to the United Nations, more than 1370 Palestinians have been killed since May 27 while searching for food. Netanyahu did not bear the responsibility for the killings and said, without providing evidence, that “a lot of shooting by Hamas.” The Israeli army has repeatedly claimed that Hamas was stealing aid, despite the discovery of the European Commission No reports Who is this.
With the exception of organized “inclusion” and control of a few hours alongside Israeli soldiers, international journalists have not been allowed to enter Gaza since Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed, most of them Israeli civilians, and more than 250 people were taken into account.
The families of the remaining hostages also criticized this plan, and many were among the tens of thousands of people who walked at Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Saturday. The plan also opened a rift between Netanyahu and the leadership of the Israeli Defense Army, but the Trump administration did not oppose it, the most important supporter of Israel.
Israel says Gaza City and nearby areas are home to two Hamas strongholds.
Netanyahu told reporters: “We have about 70 to 75 % of Gaza under Israeli control and military control. But we have remaining strongholds. These are Gaza City and the central camps in Al -Mawasi,” Netanyahu told reporters.
“Given the refusal of Hamas to put its arms, Israel has no choice but to end the mission and complete the defeat of Hamas,” he added, adding that he expects the operation to start “somewhat quickly.”
Hamas says it will not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is created.
Netanyahu returned against what he called a “global campaign of lies”. “We will win the war, with or without supporting others,” he added.
Britain, a close ally of Israel, which pushed with others at the emergency meeting, warned in New York that Netanyahu’s plan had risked the prolongation of the conflict.
“It will only deepen the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. This is not a way to solve. It is a path to more bloodshed.”
The Algerian Ambassador, Ammar Bandgama, called for sanctions against Israel in response to the Gaza City plan. “The hour came to impose sanctions on the enemy of humanity,” he said. “If another country, I would have imposed sanctions for a long time.”
However, the United States, a permanent member of the Security Council, provided support for Israel and accused those countries that supported Sunday’s meeting of “actively prolonging the war by spreading lies about Israel.”
“Israel has the right to determine what is necessary for its security and what measure measures are appropriate to end the threat posed by Hamas.”
The Israeli military attack killed at least 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, most of them civilians. The number does not include thousands believed to be buried under the rubble or indirectly killing thousands as a result of the war.
“He should not put pressure on Israel, who suffered from the most horrific attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, but on Hamas,” said Jonathan Miller.